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New Zealand Mail, Issue 746, 18 June 1886, Page 21

A terrible calamity has befallen that part of New Zealand, which was above all others, the attraction of the tourist and the delight of the savant, as well as being the Bethseda of many a well-nigh hopeless invalid. At an early hour yesterday morning week, a sudden and tremendous volcanic outburst occurred in the very heart of the Hoi Lake District. The old craters of the triple-peaked mountain Tarawera, long extinct and quiescent, have all in a moment put forth terrific energy, and spread death and destruction far and wide. The Wairoa township, at Lake Tarawera, has shared the historical fate of Herculaneum, of being overwhelmed with volcanic mud ejected from one of the newly-active craters. Various Native villages have, like Pompeii, been buried in ashes and pumice. Loss of life to a deplorable extent is known to have resulted, and it is not yet even approximately ascertained how many human victims have been sacrificed, but it is only too likely that the list will prove a long one. The sanatorium at Rotorua is, we fear, ruined altogether, for even if its actual annihilation by the volcanic forces has not been complete, the panic which will naturally be excited by the frightful events of yesterday week will hardly be overcome for a long time to come, so far as to allow people to settle there. But sad as is the sacrifice of life, regrettable as is the fate of the Rotorua sanatorium, the loss which will most powerfully excite the public regret is the irreparable one of the Rotomahana Terraces ; for these stood alone in the world, and without a rival. They constituted the greatest beauty and the greatest wonder of New Zealand ; nay, of the whole Southern Hemisphere. Judging from the accounts received, it appears only too ! probable that if they were not otherwise destroyed, they have been buried under many feet of mud and ashes. It is idle to indulge in any conjectures as to the cause of this most deplorable disaster. Theories are abundant, but seeing that no even approximately feasible theory of volcanic action has ever yet been devised, it would be of little value to speculate on the origin of this particular disturbance. It has been .suggested that the recent outbreak may be connected in some occult way with the recent extinction of the far-famed volcano of Kilauea in the Sandwich Islands. The spectacle, although most awful, must have been supremely grand, and the descriptions recall to mind Pliny’s graphic description of the great "Vesuvian eruption which he witnessed the ejected matter rising skyward in a form resembling that of the Italian stone-pine. It is very desirable that no misconception should get abroad as to the extent of the mishap. It cannot be too widely known that the disaster is confined strictly to one small district in the north of this island, known alwaysas the seat and centre of volcanic energy. The Government should take prompt steps to make ib perfectly clear abroad, especially in England, that the catastrophe is one of purely local character, and directly affecting the rest of the Colony no more than England is affected by an eruption of Vesuvius.

Sih George Grey gave notice on Tuesday of his intention to ask the Government if they purposed to lay ' before the House the correspondencewhich had recently passed between;them and Tawhiao. Mr B illance,. however', laid on the table on Tuesday evening the -correspohcTWee asked for. It comprises two letters, one from Tawhiao to the Native Minister, and the Minister’s reply. Tawhiao announces his decision, after mature consideration, to decline “ the tempting offers of position and property made to him by the Government—’ ' that is to say, a seat in the Legislative Council and a suitable income.” But -he urges that a Native Parliament or • Council should be created, to meet annually, and to possess extensive powers in certain respects. In plain terms Tawhiao demands “Home Rule ” for the Maori race. Mr Ballance, in reply, points out ; the inconvenience and probable evil • ‘ results of such a course, apd informs Tawhiao that the Government cannot- , grant his request for the establish- «. ment-of a Native Parliament, as in I the opinion of Ministers such a proceeding would be the reverse of ? beneficial to the Maori people, even ;; were there not other grave objections to its adoption. Briefly, Mr Ballance' gently but firmly refuses to grant Maoris Home Rule. We need hardly £ say that we entirely approve this deeißion. It would have been a most 1 mischievous mistake from every point of view to have given the faintest encouragement to any idea on the part of the Natives that Home Rule •_ was at all likely to be conceded to > them. Even were such a step practice - able it would be subject to the grave defect that its tendency would be to perpetuate race dis tine . tions instead of effacing them. The latter ought to be the constant .f object of all friends of the Maoris. , Indeed, we much regret that all Old World race distinctions and J differences are not wholly for-’ • gotten in the Colony—left behind in the Old World. New Zealand colo- ' nists should regard themselves simply , “ New Zealanders,” and learn to deem,: that a nationality of which to be proud.